Chapter 41: Calm part 2

'Inner thoughts'

°Telepathic Communication°

Next day at the beach…

Ryota's POV

With Emi back on her toes, we returned to the beach for one final day of training. "Ryota-kun," Kohaku-chan pulled on my haori whispering. "What kind of flashy jutsu can Yukino sensei do?"

About to answer I stopped, the first thing that came to mind was the ice she created but that was something common. 'But she does know that fireball technique…' Opening a small portal I took out her camera and held it behind myself. Placing a finger in front of my lips I sent the message to Kohaku-chan. "Yukino!" I called out as she turned halfway around curiously. "I heard that you told them yesterday that good chakra control can help them with their jutsu."

"Yeah…" she raised a brow.

"I've never seen you use that fireball technique for anything else other than cooking, can you do that properly?"

"I can. If I try."

"Then show us."

"Now?" Both me and Kohaku-chan nodded eagerly.

"What's happening?" Kiyoshi-chan asked, pushing the thick glasses he was able to get yesterday. Looking ahead the others caught up as Yukino created a circle on the sand around her with her adamantine chains.

Getting closer I stood near the circle and prepared the camera as she walked into the ocean. Aiming the lens I saw as she took in a deep breath while doing the hands signs. Standing elegantly atop the waves she faced towards the ocean and breathed out.

Starting small in size the fireball soon grew bigger sending a heatwave similar to that of a nice hot summer day. Snapping pictures I captured the moment her hair caught on fire forcing her to stop. Quickly the fireball shrunk until it was nothing but a puff of smoke. Putting out the fire with a small splash Yukino faced us and bowed showing her lightly scorched blonde hair strand laying on top of her white swimsuit. Which luckily didn't burn since I spent quite some time looking for something to go along with the necklace she always wore.

Collecting the pictures I put them back in the library knowing that she would organize it on her own time. "Woah!" Kohaku-chan exclaimed as she got her question answered. "How cool was that?!" She asked the rest of her team.

Glancing at Emi I saw her blink a couple of times in a daze °You saw that too right?° She asked with awestruck eyes. With a smile, I nodded. But alas that sweet moment between us was ruined.

"SASUKE!" We all jumped when we heard the loud scream.

"Sasuke-kun!" Another said in the same direction making us lookup. Standing above the rocks was the person I can only assume to be Naruto in orange swim trunks. 'Wait… that must mean that that pervert is nearby. I have to warn Emi!' As I was about to tell her I saw a pink-haired girl pop out from behind him wearing a pink swimsuit yelling, "Sasuke-kun?" again. 'That must be his teammate. Wait, nevermind that.' I turned to the group to tell them of the danger we all had to avoid.

Yukino's POV

Seeing Naruto above the rocks I glanced to the side seeing Ryota and the others inch their way into the shadows. °Sorry. We'll meet later.° Emi apologized keeping her head low.

°Seems that we have another free day!° Ryota added as they vanished into the shadows thanks to Emi's Genjutsu. Which meant that I was left alone to escape from this situation. That would've been a bad thing in any other situation but this actually gave me a chance to talk to a certain cute boy I hadn't talked to in years.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, "I was practicing."

"Yukino-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Yep!" I nodded making my way to the rocks to see them up close. "My! How you've grown! You're even taller than me," I held up my hand to measure the difference.

"I look cooler don't I?" He laughed.

"A bit. Though you looked cuter before." I hummed. "Wait what about me?" I pointed to myself.

"Hm… Your hair is redder!" He pointed it out so proud of himself for noticing.

"Yes!" I beamed twirling my red bangs. "It's softer than the rest, look!" I held it out for him to touch.

"Ahem." the pink-haired girl cleared her throat as Naruto was an inch from my hair.

"Sakura. I haven't forgotten you."

"How do you know me?"

"?" Sending her a questioning look I closed my eyes trying to remember just how many times I've seen her. "Oh, right. We only met a couple of times when you were a genin." I snapped my fingers in realization. 'I only remembered her because I've been keeping tabs on team 7.'

"Hey, Sai!" Naruto yelled trying to catch the attention of a pale guy in a speedo as he was about to enter the water.

"Yes?" He replied immediately.

"Look, meet Yukino-chan, she's a friend of mine."

"I'm guessing he's the new member to team 7?" I whispered low enough for only Naruto to hear.

"Yeah, he joined after Kakashi was bedridden."

"Ah…" I said as that filled in some gaps to what I missed. 'That must mean that they must've also gotten a new sensei.' "Nice to meet you. I hope we can become friends." I held my hand out.

"I hope the same…" The guy paused taking a while to figure out what to say. When he was ready he said, "ugly," with the fakest smile I've seen.

I could hear Naruto inhale sharply and Sakura's blood bubble up when he said it. "Pff. That's a first." I stifled the laughter that tried to escape. "You're quite the interesting guy."

"Wait. You're not upset?" Naruto asked, baffled as experiences told him otherwise.

"No, I find it quite funny."

"I see." The guy named Sai said. "You're quite different from Sakura-san, she becomes violent when you mention her big forehead or small–" Before he could finish Sakura punched him sending him flying to the ocean.

"Enough of that." She huffed, shaking her fist.

"Small what?" I feigned ignorance. "I could swear there was a b." Chuckling I stopped seeing her glare turn towards me. "Nevermind that. Sakura you haven't changed much. Though I can see that you've become stronger. Which is nice, don't get me wrong." I looked around seeing every other person I had met before now slightly older. But the one who I was looking for wasn't among them instead they were away from everyone sitting by the water. "It was nice seeing you guys again." I genuinely smiled. "I want to see how Hinata is doing so let's see each other later."

"Oh, wait. Yukino-chan," Naruto called out. "Avoid ero-sennin and if he gets touchy punch him. Tsunade baa-chan gave permission."

"I'll keep that in mind." Running past everyone I ran as loud as I could so Hinata could hear me. Turning around her lavender eyes widened with surprise as she saw me stampeding towards her. Before I could reach her I took a sharp turn behind her to avoid splashing her with water or throwing sand on her face.

"Guess who's arrived?" I posed with my arms spread out.

"Yukino-chan!"

"Correct!" I let out a small laugh and hugged her. "It's been so long since we talked.

"It's been only two weeks." She giggled quietly, patting my back softly.

"I know…" Letting go, I looked down at her orange one-piece swimsuit. "It looks nice on you."

"Y-you think?"

"Of course. I will never lie when it comes to you."

"T-thank you."

"What for? Oh! I just saw Naruto a minute ago. I'm sure you must've had a heart attack when he came back to Konoha." I smirked seeing her face flush brightly. Sighing I looked around and wrapped my hand around her shoulder. Keeping my voice low I asked. "So, when are you going to confess?

"I-I can't." She glanced to the side at Naruto as he played with the others. "I don't think I'm ready." She sighed playing with her fingers once again.

Seeing her shy demeanor I reflected back on my own experience and felt my face flame up. "Well I understand now. It's not easy. But if the other person ends up feeling the same the jittery feeling in you becomes worth it." I told her confidently, feeling my body shake as it did that day I confessed.

"Thank you." She sighed with relief. 'But that doesn't mean I will stop. I will make Naruto notice her.' I smiled proudly at my new approach. "Yukino?"

"Hm?"

"What did you mean by you understand?" Hearing her question I frowned sensing someone that had been lingering for too long near us. Raising my hand I parted the water to our side revealing a certain Anbu mid swim. Seeing who it was I quickly let go allowing for the water to swallow him. Pulling him away and towards the ocean. 'He's an Anbu so he will be fine.'

"Hinata! Kurenai-sensei is calling you!"

"Sorry. I have to go."

"No worries, I want to talk to the others. See you later." Watching as she followed Ino I sighed realizing just how much time has passed since the academy. Moving away from the water I walked more inland, noticing a certain masked nin sleeping under a beach umbrella. Deciding to walk over I took note of his closed eyes and book on his lap. "Kakashi," I called knowing that he was awake.

"Yukino?"

Nodding I walked over and stood under the shade. "I came to visit when you were hospitalized."

"Tsunade-sama told me."

"Yeah…" I sighed. "But during my visit I also might have seen your face under the mask. I'm sorry." I quickly apologized, shrinking my body slightly.

"Hm." He said nonchalantly. "I know, it was interesting seeing you freak out." He smiled under his mask as he opened his book to continue.

"Ah, I can't believe you. Wait, is that Icha Icha Tactics?" I gasped once I realized what he held in his hands. "That book isn't supposed to be released until later this month!" I kneeled down inching close to see the glory of an advanced copy.

"You've read this series?" He asked, surprised.

"Yes, my favorite was Icha Icha Innocence. I love the purity of the main characters' relationship. Whenever I read it I feel this tight but gentle grasp around my heart."

"If only Naruto saw it like that." He sighed.

"Wait, what did he say?"

"He said that Icha Icha Tactics was boring."

"No… it can't be, right? Not after how good the others were." Looking around I spotted Naruto holding a watermelon. "He is dense though so I understand why." I shrugged. Seeing Naruto place down the watermelon on the sand Sakura raised her hand and punched it sending watermelon pieces flying and a rumble that I could feel. "Well, that was excessive."

Glancing back I flinched when I saw the pervy sage. "Ask him for me what the next book will be called alright?" I whispered with a small smile before running away as Naruto told me too.

Emi's POV

Noticing Yukino talking to a masked man I saw her smiling making me wonder what they were talking about. His appearance resembled that of Kakashi Hakate but remembering that Konoha shinobi were on this beach right now my guess could be right.

Turning my attention back to Yukino's team I saw that they were now engaged in shinobi beach volleyball. Ryota and Kohaku were on one side with Kiyoshi and Fumio on the other. Watching with interest as Ryota hit the ball back towards the other side Fumio ran towards it and teleported to reach the ball on time, keeping it in the air long enough for Kiyoshi to bump it back to the other side.

Wanting to join I stopped myself and sat back down. 'They will just get worried if I play.' Feeling a slight vibration I looked back seeing the pink-haired girl as the source. 'She must Sakura…' I stared shocked at the crushed remains of what I believed to be a watermelon. "Gah!" Looking back I saw Ryota stumbling back as the ball fell behind him. "I'm so sorry!" Kiyoshi looked around frantically wanting someone to tell him what to do. "I'm fine!" Ryota responded trying to reassure him but as he did he tripped on his own legs once again falling on the sand.

Glancing back to where everyone else was, I spotted Yukino heading towards a small beach bar. Fanning herself I could see her sigh. 'I should talk to her later.' Just as I finished the thought I noticed a guy with purple ends spying on Yukino just as I was. 'Friends are allowed to do that. Who is he?' I looked away and called for Ryota to help identify him.

Yukino's POV

Sitting on the bar I realized that the hot feeling on my neck wasn't from the sun but from someone's gaze directly on me. 'I'm going to have to distance myself from the others.' I sighed knowing that I would have to train my students in Uzushio after all if I wanted them to actually learn something.

Tap. Tap. Turning my seat I looked behind me seeing Gaara take a seat beside me. "I see that you're still here."

"I stayed to train my students." I glanced behind him trying to look for them. 'At least they're hidden.' I told myself when I couldn't see them but still sense them nearby. "Though we haven't done much training since we arrived."

"You're a Jōnin?"

'Am I? I never got promoted to Jonin.' Not wanting to lie I said the next best thing. "Ex-Anbu." Seeing his eyes drift to my arm I covered it. "I got it removed a couple of years ago."

"I see." he nodded with understanding, "..."

"..." Looking at his swimsuit with a better look I noted the red coloring. 'Red really suits him.' I mentally nodded. Looking up our eyes met and I looked down noticing his gourd beside him. 'Does he always carry that?' I winced imagining how heavy it must be to carry all of that weight around. "There's something else you want to say, isn't there," I asked after a couple of quiet awkward seconds.

"There is…" He met my eyes. "I wanted to apologize for that night you left. There is no excuse for what I did. During your time there you didn't treat me like the others. You celebrated my birthday and made meals that I liked yet I tried to kill you." He glanced away, following it I noticed his siblings who he was looking at. "You were nice to us and that is why we didn't forget you. You wouldn't even be here had it not been for your family that came to pick you up. I'm grateful for them coming when they did," I felt his hand grab mine. Snapping my eyes back to him my heart skipped a beat. "I will try to make it up for you."

Pulling my hand back I clutched my necklace with a small twitch. "Thank you for that. I have to admit that you gave me quite the scare that night." I awkwardly laughed as I remembered that night. "I thought I was going to die again."

"Again?"

"A figure of speech." I quickly responded. Just then there was a "Poof!" right next to us and out from the smoke was Kitaro-kun in his fox form. Small as ever he trotted over and jumped on my lap. "Kitaro!" I smiled holding him up, "It's been so long where have you been?" I cooed as I scratched him under his chin. With a small little bark, he handed me a small slip of paper that was inside the bell around his neck.

"That's the fox that was with you last time," Gaara said as he recognized Kitaro-kun.

Making a mind link he sent me a message, °Read it. Burn it. Leave no trace behind.° The moment he said it he looked around worried. °Also, we miss you so come by once in a while.° He said before he tapped my arm with his little paw.

°I will try to visit Mount Inari I promise.°

°You better.° He scratched himself before poofing away leaving red fur on my swimsuit. Opening the note discreetly on my lap I quickly read the few words on it before crumpling it up.

"What did it say?" Teal eyes stared at mine with interest.

"Not much," I technically told the truth, blowing a mini fireball. I lit the paper slip and held it to my side as it burned and turned to ash. Before the fire could reach my fingertips I let go and held it in a small cup of ice. Gaara stared with slight curiosity at the burning paper, "Gaara," I smiled drawing his attention away from it. "I will tell my family. They will be thankful that you apologized, even though it came several years later." I sighed. "They will however hold you to your word. So be careful if they ever come by asking for favors." I said as I scattered the ashes in the sand. 'The one spying on me. It should have been obvious, ever since our second encounter.'

"Gaara!" Turning to look at who it was I saw Naruto waving happily with a beach ball.

"Do you want to come?" He offered.

"Thank you but no I have to talk to someone." I glanced to the side seeing Tsunade in her purple bathing suit approaching angrily.

"I see." He noted who I was referring to and left.

With a huff, Tsunade sat down a few seats away muttering about a certain sage. Deciding to be upfront I got up and walked right to her. "I'm sorry for bothering you Tsunade-sama but I have a complaint about a certain shinobi."

"Hah… Is it him." She turned her eyes to the ocean water where a certain toad sage was.

"No." Looking around I didn't see Gou, or Hitomu as he called himself, but I did sense him near so I leaned close and whispered. "My summoning animals have informed me of a stalker. Remember the Anbu, Gou, from that mission you sent us on."

"I remember him."

"Even though I never told him my name he knew it and has been calling me by it. He also seems to have found my home and entered it while I was not there. I just want you to not place us in missions that put us together."

"He has what?!" She bolted up, startling me. "Tsunade-sama. Keep your voice down. If you tell him he will just find a way to cover his tracks next time." I guided her back to her chair. 'I'm going to leave anyways in two years.' Crossing her arms she stared at me. "Yukino. This is not a matter you can solve with just distance. This needs discipline and punishment to avoid actions like this in the future."

"I know…" I sighed. "But then again it's not like I hide anything there. Also there was that one time the Anbu put surveillance in my home." I shrugged. 'I also didn't buy it and anyways I will leave once I turn 17.' Scratching my head I sighed. "You know, just do what you think is right." I stood up and waved the bartender over. Placing down some money I gestured to Tsunade. "This should be enough for some sake. Bye Tsunade-sama."

Leaving the bar I pulled my bangs back relieved to have completed that. 'Good. Now it's time that I leave.' I sighed brushing off Kitaro-kun's fur on my swimsuit. 'But first I should deal with him.' I rounded the corner of the shop seeing the familiar Anbu humming happily as he drew in a small notebook.

"Oh, Yukino." He smiled, snapping the small notebook shut.

"Hm? Hitomu right?" I pretended to forget.

"I'm glad you still remember."

"Yeah… well, I have to go back, the sun is burning me." I quickly prepared to leave. 'I didn't really think this through.'

"I could–"

"Excuse me have any of you seen Gaara sensei?" a girl with chin-length brown hair asked.

"I have. I can show you." I quickly offered.

"Really? Thank you so much!"

"No problem." I quickly guided her away, not saying goodbye to Hitomu. 'It's better this way.' I told myself as I started talking to her.

3rd POV

Finding out many things about Matsuri in the short walk Yukino made sure to share the bare minimum about herself. Which was fine since Matsuri did most of the talking which led to her learning more about the sand siblings.

"No! Your brute strength destroyed the other one!" Konohamaru yelled, holding a watermelon away from Sakura.

"Hah? What did you say?"

"S-Sakura… don't hit him." Naruto stuttered standing between them. Standing to the side with confusion Yukino just watched wondering how things got to be this way.

"Oh, Gaara-sensei!" Matsuri yelled, running towards him like a puppy. Seeing only that she returned to the drama before her with intrigue.

"Can't we just cut it?" Tenten asked.

"No! What if the pieces aren't the same." The boy yelled standing between everyone and the two watermelons left.

"Are you planning to leave them the way they are then?" Neji asked with a hint of exasperation in his voice.

Guessing how it may go on for the next few minutes she decided to speak. "Hey!" She said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I can cut it if you want. Just tell me how many slices you need and I'll do it."

"Huh? Who are you?"

"Really, Yukino-chan?" Naruto asked with happiness as the tensions eased.

"Naruto nii-san you know her?" The brown-haired boy asked. Naruto pulled him close and whispered low enough for him to hear.

"Cut them into 22 slices," Naruto said quickly.

"What about the sensei's?" Sakura asked.

"You destroyed their watermelon billboard brow."

"Shut it Ino pig."

Ignoring their back and forth on the insults she grabbed the two watermelons and looked at them measuring how she would cut it. Placing them to the side she grabbed the smaller one and knew how each cut would go. Bringing them to the cloth on the sand she pulled her sword out of her stomach immediately silencing those near enough to notice.

Holding the sword she calmly breathed out imagining the way she would move to cut the fruit into perfect slices. Opening her eyes gently lifted the watermelon in the air and drew out her sword, slicing it swiftly and cleanly.

"Woah!" Three younger kids who weren't her students said in unison.

"Nice job. Yukino nee-chan!" Konohamaru said, escaping Naruto's grasp.

・・・

After cutting the watermelon Naruto and Konohamaru started giving them to their friends while everyone sat down in a big circle talking to their friends. Looking around she found a spot facing the sea and took it before anyone else could.

"Wait… There isn't one for you." Naruto noticed once the last slice was given out.

"It's fine. I don't really like watermelon."

"Really?"

"No, I actually do. I'll just buy one later." She then felt a nudge on her arm as Akamaru offered her his slice "It's yours." She rejected the offer but patted his head with a smile.

Grabbing a napkin from the center she cleaned her sword. Once done she sheathed her sword and activated the seal on her stomach, storing the blade once again. Looking to her side she spotted Gaara slightly separate from the group staring at the almost setting sun. Standing up she made her way towards him. "May I?" She asked, gesturing to the spot beside him.

"Go ahead."

"Gaara, so… I met Matsuri and well… you know how you have students right?" She asked a sort of dumb question. "I was wondering how you did it. You know… teaching kids younger than you." She elaborated since the only people she ever taught had been older than her by one or two years.

"You need advice?"

Nodding once she glanced back, catching a glimpse of Ryota carrying a watermelon with Kohaku and Kiyoshi on his tail carrying the beach umbrella. Movement closer to her caught her attention as she caught Temari and Kankurō gesturing to both her and Gaara with silly smiles.

Shaking her head she turned back to the ocean. "I well… I had my team thrust into me all of a sudden and well… it was all good at first, I taught before and thought that it wouldn't be that hard but… it just sort of hard to explain certain things. Also, I don't have the same amount of time that I had before so I feel like I'm failing them as a teacher. I would ask Kakashi about this but he…" She gestured to the man reading Icha Icha Tactics. Remembering how aloof he was the first day he received his team. Sighing at the thought of getting her hands on that book a gentle smile bloomed on her face. Realizing what she was doing she snapped out of it and turned her attention to the Kazekage.

"I see." He closed his eyes thinking. "Do they like you?"

Caught off guard by the question she stopped herself from looking back at her team so the others wouldn't notice. "I don't know. But I hope they do."

"If you make an effort to teach them I am sure they would notice."

"I already knew that." She sighed crossing her arms over her knees. "By the way can you sleep? You know with Shukaku gone?"

"I can. But somehow it just makes me more tired." He sighed, which made her realize that today was one of those days.

"You have a sleep schedule right?" She asked, stating the obvious.

"I go to sleep after I finish my work."

About to say how that was a good thing she remembered that his work wasn't that of the average shinobi. "That's no good. You need to have a set time to sleep and measure how long it takes for you to wake up energized. Then keep up that pattern every single day." She flattened the sand and started drawing on it. "8 hours of sleep that's how much you need. If you want to get the most work time then immediately go to sleep at ten and try to wake up at six. If you can't keep that pattern then choose a different time."

"What time do you go to sleep?"

"Nine sharp." She told the truth knowing that that wasn't going to be the case a couple of weeks from now.

"Yukino-san!" Someone yelled. "Your boy friend is calling," Kohaku said without keeping her voice low.

"Oh?" Ino was the first to speak up.

"I see out of all of us you were the one to find a significant other first," Neji added nodding as if that was something he could've predicted.

"Yeah, they're the best of friends," Kohaku added with a huge smile obviously wanting this type of misunderstanding.

"Oh friends?" Sakura said, disappointed.

"Yeah what did you think she meant?" Yukino asked quizzically. "Either way it was fun meeting all of you." She stood up and gave a slight bow.

"Let's go! We're having watermelon!" The girl grabbed her hand and pulled on it. "You have to cut it as you did before."

Sometime later… different place

Organizing the herb cabinet Yukino quietly took out some and threw them into one of my portals. 'I knew this organization was bad but going after Gaara? A jinchūriki?' She huffed making life here inconvenient little by little. 'Maybe I should leave one day without a word. Find someone to heal your wounds then.' Stopping she looked down at the cabinet. 'But if I leave then I will have to leave him behind.'

Feeling arms wrapping around her she relaxed and looked up at onyx colored eyes. "Ita-kun," she whispered sweetly.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked looking directly at her eyes.

"I'm the one that asks that question." She put on a smile. "But… you didn't come to ask that did you?" She turned around excitedly waiting for what he had to say.

Watching him closely she watched as he pulled out a scroll from his cloak. °What's this?° She formed a mind link immediately looking back between him and the scroll. He already knew of her increasing dislike towards the Akatsuki; he was just waiting for her to learn what they really did on her own.

°Intel on the Akatsuki. It's enough so they can't know it was me.° He placed it on her hands to read.

Opening it she read the vague information. Pointing to Amegakure as a possible location for the base using events currently going on in the village. °It's great! But wait… how are you going to pass it on?°

°I'm going on a mission with Kisame soon. You can come along and we can drop it off.°

°Really?° She smiled brightly but it soon faltered. °Won't Kisame be suspicious?°

°It will be fine. I've done this before.°

Looking between him and the scroll she came to a conclusion. °Let me do it. I can go from here to there like snapping my fingers.°

°Yukino, don't-°

°It will be fine who will catch me anyways?°

°Zetsu.°

°He couldn't follow me to Mount Inari. If he begins to follow me I can go through there and back. Tell me the drop-off point.°

Yukino's POV

Taking the information from him he reluctantly gave it up once I told him I could probe him for it. Having all of the information needed to go to the right place I took the scroll and created a portal to the place closest to the location.

Walking for a while I felt a water droplet land on my hand. Opening a small portal I took out my umbrella and continued walking just as the rain began to pour. Humming as I walked I stopped seeing the old crumbling shrine ahead. Skipping up the slippery steps I reached the top and looked around trying to find the hollow statue.

Looking inside the mouths of each one that I passed I found it. Looking inside I saw the hollow space inside the statue and the dry hole big enough to fit a grown person's hand in and place something in it. Sensing familiar chakra nearby I straightened up and leaned against the statue hiding the scroll in my satchel, waiting to see who it was.

"Never thought I'd see you out here," Jiraiya said as he walked over to the statue.

Glancing between it and me I sighed. "Me neither." Backing away from the statue I walked towards the old crumbling shrine. "I was hoping for shelter from the rain but…" I gestured to the shrine and its crumbling state. "No luck."

Hearing his wooden shoes clank against the wet stone he walked over to the statue and looked inside. "Oh, right," I said loud enough to make him look up, once he did I tossed the scroll for him to catch. "Some guy came by asking to pass this message along."

"Would you do this for any stranger that asked?"

"No, I just happen to be bored today." I shrugged. "But now that you're here…" Reaching into my satchel I took out the unsigned books from my bag. "Can I have your autograph? Please?"

"Of course anything for a fan." He walked over quickly and began signing them.

Having the signed books back in my possession I held them close. "Thank you." Rummaging through my satchel I took out coupons, for the food, that I received from a couple of brothels. "Accept these as thank you." I held them out for him to take.

"Oh… I see that you still remember that bill."

"Yeah, please don't leave without paying. I don't want you thrown in jail before you finish the next book."

Kohaku's POV

"I'm going to be gone for a bit," Ryota-kun told us as he opened a portal to the woods from inside the mystical looking garden. Something about the nervous twitch in his smile made my legs move on their own and follow after him.

Landing on the other side Ryota-kun stood wide-eyed, staring at the town before running towards it. Standing there confused as to why I looked around seeing the place oddly quiet for such a clear day. 'Hey the town looks further away…' Finally putting things together I looked around noticing a couple of trees marked with an "x" ahead of me. Something which shouldn't be possible. 'The barrier should be where the x's mark. That's what they always said.' I told myself as I ran following the path that Ryota-kun took just moments before.

Reaching the shrine I saw people I knew standing around talking worriedly about one of the elders. Weaving through the crowd I made it to the front and walked around to the back. Remembering clearly the non-creaky floorboards I headed to the most spacious room guessing that they would be there due to the commotion.

"… couldn't hold on anymore. He's reached his limit." I could hear Baa-chan's gentle voice say, in the room with the other elders and the most trusted adults of the town.

"We can't keep up the barrier like this." Someone added. "What would happen to us. It will be only a matter of time before someone stumbles here.

"We can go to Uzushiogakure as I suggested before," Ryota-kun spoke standing near a corner since I couldn't see him from the gap in the door.

"Uzushiogakure? But that place is nothing but ruins." An adult said.

"They don't know?" Ryota-kun asked with disbelief. "Well I can tell you later. But first. Elders, I plead that you please just come and join the rest of our kin back in our homeland. I know I lost my temper last time but please give it a chance." He said specifically to them but as he did the others in the room began to whisper uncertainty about the plan that he had.

About to barge in there and support Ryota-kun I stopped as one of the elders spoke up. "Maybe… it's time to give your idea a chance." One of the elders sighed. "Our tactic is failing and there is no one able to replace us."

I don't know if Ryota-kun saw me or sensed me but he walked to the door and closed it preventing me from hearing any more. Huffing I crossed my arms and snuck back out of the shrine before someone caught me and nagged me for leaving.

Staying at the back of the shrine I sat down and waited for Ryota-kun to return which he did after an hour. But before he did I felt my eyes becoming increasingly heavy I and felt myself fall forward when I snapped back up. "Tired?" Looking behind me, Ryota-kun stood by the exit and rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah," I yawned.

"Same." He yawned. Taking out a scroll he took out a small brush and began writing on it.

"What are you doing?" I asked feeling that sleepy feeling leave my body immediately.

"Sending them a heads up." He sighed. "The last time a group of people came well… we really weren't well equipped. So I hope that at least there's a plan now for around 30 new people." He shrugged and looked down immediately reading the new message. "Ah, so there is a plan now. That's good."

"Where will they be placed?"

"In Tsukimi city."

"So will I be able to visit?"

"Of course," he smiled. "Don't you know the city you live in?"

"I think they mentioned it in a class at the orphanage." I vaguely remembered. "But I think that I was doing something else," I mumbled as I clearly remembered focusing more on the writing someone left on the table. 'I should pay more attention.' I told myself as I felt my ears burn from embarrassment.

"Well it seems I'm going to have to teach you three what each place is called."

"Aw… no…" I whined.

"If you don't know Kohaku-chan then maybe the others don't know either. If they don't I have to teach them as well." To no one's surprise Fumio and Kiyoshi, both knew and immediately looked at me when Ryota-kun asked if they knew what each place in Uzushio was called.